Ladder construction



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,186

, J. INGERSOLLYI LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I J I @14 15 a Q a 22 21 17 17- 21 3 z;

Joke Mi J72 ensoll J mmmw Patented Aug. 17, 1926 UNITED STATES osEPn fINeERsoLL, or LQSANGELES, oALIronnrA; nssre von no gains 1;. rnrrnns F L S' G E$1 QALI EQBN A- l LADDER ON R I N l Application filed April 17,

This invention pertains particularly to step-ladder construction; and relates specifically to improvements in means for securing the steps to the stiles, and also for provid- 1ing pivotal connections for the adjustable egs.

A particular feature of the invention is strength and durability of constructio-n combined with simplicity and economy of manufacture. This is accomplished by the use of metallic joint-forming members, stamped from single pieces of material, and so formed and attached as to embrace the stiles and steps, to not'on'ly hold these members in rigid cOfiIlQ tion, but to prevent their longitudinal splitting. Further, these members are so formed as to provide comparatively large fiat bearing surfaces between securing rivet or bolt ends and the wooden stiles andsteps; minimizing the possibilityof such ends biting into the wood and splitting these parts.

A further feature of'my invention is the provision of a joint forming member, which is very rigid and durable in construction; which holds the steps and stiles rigidly together, and from which the stiles and steps are easily removed for replacement. Particularly, the steps may be very easily and quickly replaced, and this is very desirable for the reason that the steps wear out and require replacement oftener than the stiles.

These and other features will be more fully explained in the following specification, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings for illustration of the description in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of a typical step-ladder, showing .the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 2 is 'a View similar to- Fig. 1 only in vertical transverse section; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two complementary jointforming members, especially designed for securing the to step or platform to the stiles, as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2, the ladder platform and stiles being shown in dot-dash lines; Fig. i is a plan view of a metal blank from which .thejoint-forming members are formed (as illustrated in Figs. 1;to 3inclu- .sive) ;.Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the joint-forming member shownin ,1 to 3' inclusive, modified to form a step 1 o nd. g- 6 is a View simi ar tofEis- 4;, s owing how the blank of that figure is gnodified to form the step support of Fig. 5.

1922. Serial No. 554,025..

First referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral l0 designates the upper-fragmentary portions of parallel side rails or stiles of. a typical step-ladder, and 11 the top step on it will nevertheless be obvious that two of such legs may be used if desired; as is commonly the case.

The stiles 10 and platform 11; are rigidly joined together by a" complementary pair of my improved joint-forming members, generally designated by the numeral 14.; "These members are identical exceptthat they are formed in complementary rights and lefts, as particularly illustrated-in Fig. 2. They are stamped from a single piece of any suitable material, preferably galvanized iron.

Referring now to Fig. 4;, the blank is stamped out in the configuration shown, consisting of a body portion 15, fromon'e end of which an arm 16 extends, and from one side of which a flange portion 17 extends; the latter continuing and termina-ting in an arm '18. The size of the body portion 15, l and the lengths of the flange portion 17and arms 16 and 18, will be governed by the size of the material used in'the stiles 10 and platform 11.

"Bolt or ivetholes l9 are punched in th body portion 15, and similar holes 20, 2-1 and 22, punched in the arm 16, flange 17 and arm ,8,. sspest elys th WQ P of 110168 19 and 20 being ,spaced the same distance apa t t e Purp e 9 w c l be later expla d- I Preferably the arms" 16 and 18 are tapered towards their outer ends, to provide lightness of construction by reducing the 1 612. Where it an s e sp l it ii sacr fi in st n hi rm 1.648 a 0 I tinuation of the body portion its upper edge .23 being straight and on a "line with the lower ed 2. bf th a m .18, a d both e ng a .cont nuation 9f 11. .1. 1 e 4 "be ween t e body pert en lists he -is attached, as will later appear.

flange portion 17 and which will form the top edge of the body portion 15, when the member is bent for attachment to the stiles and pin-term. The lower edge 25, of the arm 16, extends at an angle relative to' the edge 23, being a continuation of the lower or ge of the body portion 15; and its angularity will be such that when 1 the member is secured to the stile this lower edge will extend across the stile at substantially right angles to its longitudinal edges. From the end of the edge 25, which terminates about midway of the body portion 15, an inclined edgeZG extends upwardly at an angle to ajuncture with the flange portion 17 and arm 18, as shown; forming a body portion 15?, which serves as a brace for the rear portion of the platform when the member A bolt hole 27 is punched through the body portion 15 approximately at its center.

Both of the complementary joint-forming members may be stamped from the metal 'with the same die, each being identical in the blank; but being formed into right and left hand members by the manner in which they are subsequently bent for attachment. Preferably l first secure the member to the stile by placing the body portion 15 against its inner face so that the upper end of the stile will extend along the line 17 and its outer longitudinal edge along the line 16 1 the stile being so cut for the purpose. The

stile, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

- arm .16 is then bent around toward the outer face of the stile, along the line 16 and again along the line 16 so that the portion between these lines will embrace the outer longitudinal edge and so the arm 16 will then lie along the outer face of the stile;

after which the extreme outer end of the arm is then bent inwardly along the line 16, so this extreme outer portion will embrace the. rear {longitudinal edge of the After being thus bent each of the pairs of bolt holes 19 and 20 will be in axial alignment; suitable holes being bored through the stile 10 between them, through whichbolts 28 are passed from the outer to the inner face, for the reception of nuts 29 at their inner ends. The body portion 15 and arm 1-6 are so formed that the point of juncture between the edges-25 and 26 will bev substantially at the rear. edge of the stile 10 when the part 55 is attached thereto (see Fig. 2) and so the arm 16 will completely embrace both longitudinal edges of this stile and its outer face in the manner shown. By thus embracing the stile with the arm 16 it is securely held against splitting; and the bolt heads and nuts are separated from the stile by the metallic portions, obviating possibility of their biting into the wood and splitting it.

After the members have been thus secured to the stile the fiange portion 17 and arm 18 are then bent along the line 17 to extend inwardly and at substantially right angles to the body portion 15, and ma plane with the upper diagonal edge ofthe stile 10 Preferably this flange portion 17 and arm 18 will be bent before the member is secured to the stile, as hereinbefore described. The platform 11 is then placed upon the inwardly extending flange 17, with its front edge at substantially the outer longitudinal edge of the stile, (see Figs. 1 and 2) after which the arm 18 is bent upwardly around the rear longitudinal edge of the platform, along the lines 18 and 18 so it will extend across the top face of the platform; after which the extreme outer end is bent downwardly along the line 18, so this extreme outer end will embrace the forward longitudinal edge of the platform, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. After being v thus bent the pairs of holes 21 and 22 will be in axial alignment, and holes are then bored through the platform in alignment with them for the reception of suitable rivets 30, or bolts if desired. In the same manner the flange 17 and arm 18 space the belt or rivet ends from the wood to prevent splitting it. v 1 7 As now attached the member rigidly embraces the upper end of the stile 10 and also the platform 11, holding the upper end 10 of the stile in contact with the bottom face 11 of the platform 11; being thus rigidly oined together, the body portion 15f extends from the rear longitudinal edge of the stile 10 to the rear longitudinal edge of the platform 11, forming a brace or bracket for the latter. By forming the joint-forming members in this manner to embrace the ends of the stile and platform; and by forming them to interpose metallic portions between the bolt or rivet ends and the wood, I am enabled. to use a much lighter and softer material in the construction of the ladder than has heretofore been found practicable.

After joining the stiles and platform, in the manner described, the supporting leg 12 is pivotally-secured to the structure by means of a suitable fitting 31. The fitting 31 may be similarly formed of sheet metal to extend around, say three sides of, the leg and secured thereto by means of suitable bolts 32 and 33. The fitting 31 terminates at its upper end in ears 341 through which bolt holes are punched for the reception of suitable pivot bolts 35, and which also extend through the holes 27 in the brace portions 15 By thus positioning the pivotal points of the adjustable leg 12, in the brace portion 15 the leg 12 may be folded in against the steps 13, when it is not in use, to extend parallel to the stiles 10. Also, inethis manner, the leg 12 forms a juncturewit-h'the longitudinal center-of the platform 11, or, if

desired, farther towards its rear edge, so that in standing on the platform 11 shifting of the weight slightly towards this rear edge will not cause further separation of. the legs at their bottoms.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated the manner in which the joint-forming member shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, is modified to embrace the stiles l0 and form supports for the steps 13. I accomplish this by utilizing the same metal blank shown in Fig. 4 only modified as shown in Fig 6; although this is merely for convenience and economy of manufacture and need not operate as a limitation. If desired the support of Fig. 5 may be initially stamped out as shown. V

In utilizing the blank of Fig. 4 it is subsequently stamped to remove the outer end or major portion of the arm 18 and the body portion 15, as illustrated in Fig. 6 the dotdash lines showing the parts removed and the solid lines the finished blank. Holes 19 and 20 are punched as previously described; but instead of the holes 21 and 22, holes 36 and 37 are punched in the flange 17 and arm 18 respectively.

After being thus modified by stamping and punching, the members are first secured to the stiles and thence to the steps, as hereinbefore described. Securing rivets or bolts may be passed through the holes 19 and 20, and through the holes 36 and 37, which will axially register, when the arm 18 is bent to embrace the step, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Rivets may be used in the holes 19 and 20, if desired, as the stiles ordinarily will outwear the other parts; but owing to the rapid wear of the steps 13, it will be preferable to use bolts in the holes 36 and 37. It can be readily seen from the foregoing, how easily the steps may be removed and replaced;

\Vhile I have herein shown and described the preferred specific embodiment of my invention, I nevertheless reserve the right to make such changes or modifications in structure which will properly come within the scape of the appended claims.

.Iaving described a. preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In a step ladder construction and the like the combination with a stile and step of an integral securing member, comprising a right angularly bent body portion adapted to engage the inner face of the stile and the under face of the step; an arm extending from one edge of the stile engaging body portion, around one edge and across the outer face of the stile, the free end of said arm being bent inwardly to engage around the other edge of the stile; an arm extending from one edge of the step enportion adapted to engage one face of the stile, an arm extending from the forward end of said body portion to laterally extend around and embrace the stile, a flange extending from said body portion to engage the-under face of the platform, and an arm extending from one end of said flange to laterally extend around and embrace said platform, the said body portion extending rearward of the stile to support the offset portion of the platform, and an adjustable supporting leg pivotally secured to said rear wardly extending body portion.

3. In step ladder construction and the like, the combination with a stile and top platform rearwardly offset thereon, of an integral securing member comprising a'body portion adapted to engage one face of the stile, an arm extending from the forward end of said body portion to laterally extend around and embrace the stile; securing means extending through siaid body portion, stile and embracing arm; a flange extending from said body portion to engage the under face of the platform, an arm extending from one end of said flange to laterally extend around and embrace the platform; securing mens extending through said flange, platform and embracing arm; the said body portion extending rearward of .the stile to support the offset portion of the platform; and an adjustable supporting leg pivotally secured to said rearwardly extending body portion.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day ofApril, 1922.

JOSEPH INGERSOLL. i 

